Almanzor mare up to Challenge

Multiple black-type placegetter Mary Shan significantly boosted her future broodmare value when she posted a determined victory in the G3 Great Northern Challenge Stakes at Ellerslie.

The daughter of Almanzor had to it the hard way as she was up against the reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year, but the Andrew Forsman-trained mare rose to the occasion over 1600 metres.

“She’s been going super and she beat a very good one in El Vencedor, so that’s no mean feat,” Forsman’s Racing Manager Joe Walker said.

Mary Shan has now won three of her four starts this preparation with her sole defeat in the G3 Breeders’ Stakes at Hawera.

“Her only miss had been on that very heavy track, she had been working well and it all worked out beautifully. The Rich Hill Mile is probably at the top of the priority list now.”

Mary Shan improved from midfield to be fifth on the turn and then produced an irresistible finish to collar the short-priced favourite close to home.

“The race panned out perfectly and I was pretty confident 200 metres out that we’d get El Vencedor,” successful rider Craig Grylls said.

“It’s great for her to great a black type win, it’s thoroughly deserved.”

Mary Shan had previously finished runner-up at Group 2 level in the Eight Carat Classic and Soliloquy Stakes and twice in Listed events, the Aotearoa Classic and Matamata Cup.

She is out of the High Chaparral mare Shanzam, whose dam Shanzero won the G3 Wellington Stakes, and she also has a yearling colt by Almanzor.

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